Andrews govt to spend millions on Indigenous Treaty negotiators

Taxpayers will fork out $2m to cover the wages of new Treaty negotiators as the Andrews government prepares to ramp up landmark reconciliation talks.

The Andrews government is about to begin landmark reconciliation discussions. Picture: Jason Edwards

Taxpayers will fork out $2m to cover the wages of new Treaty negotiators as the Andrews government formally begins its landmark reconciliation discussions.

As the state government prepares to ramp up Treaty talks, fresh job ads have appeared online to attract more than 12 new staffers to help with “strategic advice” on reconciliation efforts.

Among the new jobs, which appeared on Seek earlier this month, is a callout for multiple “Senior Treaty Specialists”, with an income bracket of between $175,731 – $238,997.

Multiple manager roles for the Treaty Negotiations and Strategy Branch, with a salary of between $129,379 – $173,138, are also up for grabs.

“The First Peoples – State Relations Group is responsible for groundbreaking work in the areas of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty, and truth,” each of the descriptions read.

“Please note that an understanding, experience and commitment to the rights of First Peoples in Victoria, including cultural rights, self-determination, Treaty and truth is expected in this role.”

Department of Treasury and Finance secretary David Martine suggested a plan to slash 4000 public sector jobs.

The extra government staffers could cost taxpayers more than $2m a year at a time when the Andrews government is trying to cut spending and raise taxes and charges.

Just last week, the state government sensationally backed away from its plan to slash 4000 or one in 10 public sector jobs, which would have saved taxpayers $2.1bn over the next four years.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, the Department of Treasury and Finance secretary David Martine had suggested the measure after the wages bill ballooned from $24bn when the Andrews government first came to office, to an estimated $35bn this year.

But a spokesman for the Department of Premier and Cabinet said the spend on new Treaty jobs was required to deliver lasting benefits to all Victorians.

“Treaty in Victoria will deliver long-term sustainable solutions because First Peoples will make decisions about the matters that impact their lives, to the benefit of all Victorians and that’s why DPC is being appropriately resourced to make this happen,” they said.

New co-chair for Victoria’s First People’s Assembly Ngarra Murray who backed the government’s investment, said negotiations needed to begin on “equal footing”.

“Treaty is important work, but it’s not easy work. There needs to be a proper investment in this process if we want it to deliver the many benefits it can bring to everyone in Victoria,” Ms Murray said.

“Our mobs have been doing a lot of work to get to this point, so of course we want to know the government is taking its responsibilities seriously.”

In 2018, the Andrews government enacted Australia’s first Treaty legislation which led to the establishment of the Assembly.

Treaty negotiations are expected to commence by the end of the year.